Introduction

Abstract

The European Union is a form of state for which there is no real precedent. As a result of the recent enlargements it now has 27 members. At the same time there has been further deepening of the union, most notably through the establishment of the single currency for some of the most developed and stable economies in the Union. But it remains far from clear what the ultimate destination of the EU will be, whether it will emerge as a global actor in other fields, including defence and foreign policy, in the way that it has emerged as a global actor in world trade. The setbacks to ratifying the constitutional treaty in 2005 and 2008 as a result of the referendum defeats in France, the Netherlands and Ireland have created a malaise in the EU. They have highlighted the disjunction that has emerged between the political elites and the electorates of the member states, and caused a lively debate about how the EU should develop in future, and whether it can overcome the present limitations on its ability to co-operate in new ways, and generate a truly common will and purpose. Unless it finds a way to do so, the EU is likely to remain secondary in power and influence to the United States and increasingly to some of the rising economic powers, such as China and India.